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TheRuahine Range is the largest of several mountain ranges in theNorth Island ofNew Zealand that form a ridge running parallel with the east coast of the island betweenEast Cape andWellington. The ridge is at its most pronounced from the central North Island down to Wellington, where it comprises the Ruahine,Tararua andRemutaka Ranges.
The Ruahines run northeast–southwest for 110 kilometres from inlandHawke's Bay to nearWoodville. It is separated in the south from the northern end of theTararua Range by theManawatū Gorge.
The highest point in the Ruahines is Mangaweka, situated along the Hikurangi Range, which at 1733 metres (5686 feet) is the second highest non-volcanic mountainous peak in the North Island afterMount Hikurangi (1754 metres/5755 feet) in theRaukumara Range.
The other notable peak isWharite (920 metres/3017 feet), which visually marks the southern end-point of the Ruahine Range. The dominant geographical landmark in theManawatū andTararua District, Wharite is perhaps better known in the region for its highly-visible television transmission tower. The first transmitter at Wharite was commissioned in 1963, relaying Wellington's WNTV1 channel (now part ofTVNZ 1). The current main transmitter was commissioned in 1966.[1]
Ruahine is aMāori name believed to mean "wise woman", with reference to the migrant leader's granddaughter on theAotea canoe.[2] A local Māori says "Kaua e whakakoria te kuku o Ruahine, kei wera!" (Don't disturb the forest of Ruahine, or it will burst into flames!), referring to the fact that attacking tribes often came down into Hawke's Bay through the passes of the Ruahine Range.[3]
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40°00′S176°06′E / 40.000°S 176.100°E /-40.000; 176.100
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